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Click here to see a list of growing industries in Southwest MinnesotaSouthwest Minnesota is a mostly rural region with a changing population and a changing economy, along with a steady dependence on traditional industries like agriculture and manufacturing. In fact, the region has nearly 12,000 farms and the largest share of covered employment in agriculture in the state. But the region is no longer just focused on growing crops and livestock; it is also intent on growing the population and cultivating new jobs in emerging industries from health care to manufacturing to professional and scientific services.

Click here to read High Energy: A Guide to Finding Your Place in the Renewable Energy FieldThe region has worked hard to establish its position as a leader in renewable energy, and it is currently home to over two-thirds of the state’s operating ethanol and biodiesel plants and identified wind power farms. While renewable energy is certainly helping to fuel the economic recovery in Southwest Minnesota, many other industries are experiencing job growth in the region as well. In fact, despite the current recession, the region has seen job growth from 2006 to 2008, and total employment has reached the highest levels ever reported.

If you are interested in living and working in Southwest Minnesota, this website is designed to inform you about job availability and wages in this region of the state. The 40 Growing Industries featured below have been selected because they are currently adding jobs in Southwest Minnesota and are projected to continue growing into the future. Many of these industries also offer high pay compared to other occupations in the region. You can use this information to make better career choices as you develop your skills and plan your education.

While the 40 growing industries on this list are great choices because of their current and future growth in the region, should you limit your occupational choices to industries on this list? No! Choosing a career is a very personal decision and you should still take into consideration all aspects of a career and industry when you’re making a choice, such as educational requirements, annual wages, and your personality style and work values. In fact, the state of Minnesota tracks more than 770 different occupations, many of which are available in Southwest Minnesota . For additional information on how to plan your career and conduct an effective job search, please contact your local Minnesota WorkForce Center.

(Industry titles are links to detailed industry information pages that will list demand occupations)

Growing Industries in Southwest Minnesota, Sorted by Recent Job Growth
Total, All Industries
5,776
73,211
$30,238
0.5%
398
4.4%
2,806
38
824
$57,959
53.2%
286
11.6%
125
14
626
$41,643
49.8%
208
52.9%
428
11
2,405
$34,258
6.2%
140
25.1%
2,100
128
2,053
$8,874
6.6%
128
6.2%
319
165
3,240
$26,228
3.4%
107
1.9%
304
47
1,254
$17,857
8.9%
102
36.4%
961
100
1,164
$41,745
9.1%
97
3.9%
72
18
3,607
$34,138
2.5%
87
-0.3%
-15
15
1,276
$59,476
7.2%
86
13.8%
293
31
398
$57,084
27.2%
85
11.4%
57
35
716
$35,283
12.6%
80
-9.1%
-167
70
1,680
$13,383
5.0%
80
-1.6%
-63
38
437
$21,636
22.1%
79
-4.2%
-55
21
235
$32,008
50.6%
79
26.1%
103
15
155
$32,734
101.3%
78
-49.4%
-78
50
224
$39,378
51.4%
76
13.1%
44
55
392
$9,918
19.9%
65
47.3%
634
64
391
$32,220
19.2%
63
-13.2%
-73
7
365
$36,350
15.9%
50
14.2%
98
47
664
$30,964
7.3%
45
0.9%
34
95
399
$32,724
12.1%
43
-0.5%
-4
36
2,985
$20,391
0.9%
26
-7.0%
-368
72
464
$25,854
5.5%
24
32.0%
291
15
101
$48,381
17.4%
15
32.2%
128
160
835
$36,611
1.5%
12
-8.6%
-169
34
221
$26,240
5.2%
11
-8.2%
-45
133
420
$25,832
1.9%
8
-7.1%
-80
43
102
$63,889
7.4%
7
-11.2%
-149
127
1,390
$36,317
0.1%
1
4.7%
202
7
210
$52,991
0.5%
1
39.0%
126
4
162
$37,623
0.0%
0
34.0%
71
25
538
$41,811
0.0%
0
-22.0%
-229
217
760
$35,715
0.0%
0
14.8%
215
19
164
$43,362
0.0%
0
1.5%
12
15
295
$14,072
0.0%
0
48.6%
356
202
2,796
$30,600
0.0%
-1
19.6%
1,063
7
722
$47,210
-2.2%
-16
15.0%
519
12
2,183
$42,843
-1.8%
-40
-9.1%
-233
98
5,446
$31,409
-1.0%
-56
-9.7%
-1,146
792
8,011
$19,637
-3.6%
-296
0.9%
182
Source: DEED Quarterly Census of Employment & Wages (QCEW), 2006-2016 Employment Projections

 
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